How to Remove a Deleted Microsoft 365 User from SharePoint Ownership
Question details
The user needs to remove a deleted Microsoft 365 account that still appears as a SharePoint site owner or user.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 / SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Cleaning up SharePoint site permissions and ownership displays after a Microsoft 365 user account has been permanently deleted.
- Observed behavior
- The deleted user continues to be listed as a SharePoint owner or user because their user profile and UserInfo record persist after account deletion.
Ensure you have SharePoint Administrator privileges and verify that the user account has been permanently deleted from the Microsoft 365 admin center before proceeding.
Delete the User Profile from the SharePoint Admin Center
Remove the residual user profile directly from the SharePoint admin center to clear the ownership display.
When a user is deleted from Microsoft 365, their UserInfo record and user profile may persist in SharePoint. Manually deleting this profile forces SharePoint to update its directory.
Log in to the Microsoft 365 admin center, click on 'Show all' in the left pane, and navigate to the SharePoint admin center.
In the left navigation menu of the SharePoint admin center, click on 'More features' and then select 'Open' under the 'User profiles' section.
Under the People section, click on 'Manage User Profiles'.
Search for the deleted user's name or email. Hover over the profile name, click the dropdown menu, and select 'Delete' to permanently remove the profile.
Remove the Account from the Site UserInfo List
Clear the hidden UserInfo list on specific SharePoint sites where the deleted user still appears.
Manage Your Local and Cloud Documents with WPS Office
While SharePoint handles your team's complex cloud permissions, WPS Office serves as an excellent, lightweight alternative to Microsoft Office for creating, editing, and managing your documents. It provides full compatibility with Microsoft file formats without the hefty subscription costs.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and click 'Download WPS Office Free'.
- 2. Install the Software: Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.
- 3. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Microsoft Office files with full format preservation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a deleted Microsoft 365 user still appear in SharePoint?
SharePoint maintains its own user directory and UserInfo list. Even when a user is deleted from Microsoft 365, their profile and permissions may cache in SharePoint until manually removed or cleared by backend sync jobs.
Can retention policies prevent the removal of a deleted user?
Yes, if your organization uses Microsoft 365 retention policies or litigation holds, user data and profiles might be intentionally preserved. This can delay or prevent the complete removal of the user from SharePoint site ownerships.
How long does it take for user deletion to sync to SharePoint automatically?
Normally, directory synchronization between Microsoft 365 and SharePoint Online can take up to 24 hours. However, orphaned ownership records often require manual cleanup using the SharePoint admin center as automated syncs may not clear historical metadata.
